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Old 07-31-2007, 12:16 AM   #1
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Doctor Concentrating too much on one specialty


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Undergrad junior here, and I am wondering if theres a problem with concentrating your work in undergrad too much on a certain specialty. For example, I am

1. majoring in Neurobiology and Psychology
2. neurology research
3. shadowing neurologists
4. publishing a brain magazine
5. teaching a brain course
6. finished volunteering at Alzheimer's Center

I have other EC's that are not brain related, but they are only through the freshman and sophomore years. I feel my junior and senior years will be heavily, if not only, brain related EC's if I dont get advice to do otherwise.

I am also not sure if the case is different for MD/PhD's versus MD's only. I also want a neuroscience PhD spot, and I know the PhD committee wants heavily brain related EC's.. Kind of worried about the MD committee though. They might ask if I am only considering neurology, psychiatry, or neurosurgery and nothing else.

What do you think?
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Old 07-31-2007, 06:09 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Palaver87 View Post
I am also not sure if the case is different for MD/PhD's versus MD's only. I also want a neuroscience PhD spot, and I know the PhD committee wants heavily brain related EC's..
PhD committees usually don't have much say in MD/PhD admissions. Your average MD/PhD applicant is much more qualified than your average PhD applicant, so graduate programs generally only object to applications once and awhile rather than push certain candidates. The top candidates are usually apparent to the MD/PhD committee anyways.

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Kind of worried about the MD committee though. They might ask if I am only considering neurology, psychiatry, or neurosurgery and nothing else.
You're a MD/PhD applicant and you're interested in the brain. I think your concern is a non-issue. Nobody from the MD committee is going to smite you because you didn't get more FP or IM or something.
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Old 07-31-2007, 08:11 AM   #3
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Awesome, thanks!
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Old 07-31-2007, 08:46 AM   #4
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Actually I would think it's probably a good thing. It shows that you are devoted and interested in a certain thing, and that you have your goals clear in your mind.

BTW, is it possible to shadow a neurologist or a physician if you don't know him/her before? Are there specific opportunities for that?
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Old 07-31-2007, 04:43 PM   #5
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I got mine through connections with my research. Yeah, the shadowing isn't really meant for undergrads, but my mentor was like, "Keep on annoying them and there will be an open spot for you some time." lol So that's what I did.
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